Page 72 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

and a host of other names. He is indeed the Lord who regards

with compassion, all beings suffering from the evils of existence

within the Six Realms.

K S Y is the direct translation of the Sanskrit name of

Avalokitesvara which has the following meaning:

K — ‘contemplate’ or ‘looks on’

S — the world or the region of sufferers’

Y — ‘all the sounds of the world,’ i.e., the cry-

ing sounds of beings, verbal or mental, all

acknowledging misery and seeking salvation

which touch the heart of the Lord who pities.

Kuan Shih Yin is therefore the Bodhisattva of great compassion,

mercy and love who has won the hearts of countless people. By

virtue of his infinite power, he is capable of regarding the cries

of the people whether these represent either desire or suffer-

ing, delivering them through the wisdom of skilful means, and

appearing in the form suitable to those to be saved. is noble

Lord is thus the ‘saviour’ who may assume the form of a Buddha,

Bodhisattva, god or any other forms, either male or female, in

order to fulfill his task of mercy.

In most of the Buddhist lands, the male form is predominant

but in China, Kuan Shih Yin manifests in various female forms

such as:

“White-robed Kuan Yin”

“Child-giving Kuan Yin”

“Calm-sea Kuan Yin”

